Save Money With These 6 Reusable Objects

Save Money With These 6 Reusable Objects

In today’s world, the average person uses a lot of disposable products. While disposable products can be convenient, the cost of buying them over and over again can really add up. Reusable items cost more money upfront, but they will save you money in the long run, and some even pay for themselves after only a few uses. In most cases, the reusable items even offer a better experience than the disposable ones, so it’s a win-win situation.

Here’s how you can save money with these 6 reusable objects:

1. Wool dryer balls.

Disposable dryer sheets work wonders in reducing static in your laundry, but purchasing boxes of dryer sheets can get expensive, especially if you have a large family and do laundry frequently. Reusable wool dryer balls will not only save you money on laundry costs, in the long run, they also have added benefits that you don’t get with disposable dryer sheets. In addition to the wool absorbing moisture and controlling static, the weight of the dryer balls helps to fluff up the clothes. This keeps wrinkles at bay and can also reduce drying time. Less time in the dryer means a lower utility bill, so you’re saving money in two areas with one item.

2. Cloth towels.

Paper towels are convenient, but the price of that convenience can be high, especially if you buy name brands. Cut back on your paper towel usage by buying good-quality cloth towels. Choose a type of cloth, like cotton, that won’t leave lint and residue behind when you wipe down surfaces. Your cloth towels should also be white so that you can bleach them after using them to wipe up a mess that’s unsanitary or causes stains. Even if you decide to keep paper towels around for wiping up grosser messes, you can still cut back on how many you use by keeping cloth towels in your kitchen for wiping up crumbs, drying dishes, and other tasks that aren’t so messy. That way, you only have to buy paper towels occasionally.

3. Reusable straws.

If you enjoy drinking your beverages through a straw, all those disposable straw purchases can add up quickly. Instead of wasting your money on boxes of straws that will just end up in the trash, invest in a few stainless steel or hard plastic drinking straws. By buying more than one, you can make sure you always have one clean and ready to use. You can even keep each of your straws in different convenient places. Keep one in your desk at work, one in your kitchen at home, and one in your car for on-the-go beverages. One of the best thing about reusable straws is they are easy to sanitize in the dishwasher.

4. Filter-top water bottle.

You probably already know that drinking tap water is cheaper than buying bottled water, but bottled water is prefiltered, which often makes it taste better than tap water. That’s where a reusable filter-top water bottle comes in. You can fill up the water bottle using any convenient water faucet, and the cap of the bottle filters the water as you drink it, so you get the same great taste as bottled water. This is especially convenient for use outside of the home. At home, you may have a filter on your faucet already, but the filter-top water bottle can be a wallet-saver if you’re out in public and you have to choose between buying bottled water or drinking from a public fountain.

5. Fabric sandwich bags.

When you’re packing school and work lunches every day, you can go through a box of disposable plastic sandwich bags pretty quickly. Washable fabric sandwich bags are a great alternative. Made of durable fabric with snap closures, reusable sandwich bags also don’t leave a plastic taste behind on the food like plastic bags sometimes do. If you’re worried about sandwich condiments dripping through the fabric, you can get fabric bags lined with beeswax, which naturally waterproofs them. If you’re handy with a sewing machine, you can save even more money by making the bags yourself.

6. Fabric bowl covers.

When covering up a bowl of food to put away in the refrigerator, most people reach for plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Reusable fabric bowl covers can serve the same purpose, and they’re actually even easier to use since you don’t have to measure out exactly how much plastic wrap or foil to use. Fabric bowl covers are a circle of fabric with elastic around the edges, similar in design to a shower cap. Just stretch the elastic over the bowl and it’s good to go in the refrigerator. Just like fabric sandwich bags, fabric bowl covers can also come lined in beeswax to make them waterproof, and you can make them yourself if you have sewing skills.